Lululemon Athletica to open at Waterfront Plaza this fall

First came the trunk show in 2014.

That was Wichita’s initial introduction to Lululemon Athletica, the Vancouver-based company that prefers to test markets first with shows, then with a showroom – not a traditional store.

That’s what Wichita got last summer when Lululemon opened a showroom in 1,344 square feet at the Shops at Tallgrass near the northeast corner of 21st and Rock Road.

Now, as expected, the company is opening a traditional full-size store. It’ll be in the 2,750 square feet next to Whole Foods Market at Waterfront Plaza at the northwest corner of 13th and Webb Road.

“We’ve been talking to them for nearly three years,” says the Waterfront’s Stephen Clark II.

“We’re pleased to have such a high-quality national retailer in Wichita,” he says. “We think the Waterfront Plaza is a perfect fit.”

The store will open there this fall.

“Lululemon plays very nicely with Whole Foods, Pure Barre, Orangetheory Fitness …SpaRenity,” Clark says of some of the other businesses at Waterfront Plaza.

Don Piros of Landmark Commercial Real Estate handled the deal for the Lululemon space.

A Lululemon representative confirms the store is going to open at the Waterfront and that it will be permanent. She says she’ll share more information as updates are available.

Though the Lululemon showroom that’s been open almost a year carries some of the chain’s key styles, its hours have been more limited than the new store’s hours will be.

In addition to expanded hours, the new store will have a larger range of products as well. Lululemon carries men’s and women’s apparel and has a particular emphasis on yoga clothing and accessories.

Clark says there’s more Waterfront news to come.

“We should have a few more exciting tenant announcements very soon.”